The New Year is unlikely to bring chill to Kolkata, the Met office has said.
The Celsius in Kolkata had dipped sharply in the second week of December. After persisting for days, the chill went missing in the run-up to Christmas and has since eluded Kolkatans.
"A cyclonic circulation is active over the Bay of Bengal. The system was in Bangladesh earlier. As a result, the moisture-laden winds are entering Kolkata. They are stalling the free flow of northwesterly winds, which bring winter chill into the city," said G.K. Das, director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore, on Sunday.
Some northwesterly winds are active in the western districts of Bengal. But the moisture-laden winds that are dominant in Kolkata are blocking the northwesterlies' access to the city, said Das.
A thick layer of fog has been engulfing much of the heartland for several days now. The layer of fog ranges from Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar to parts of Bengal.
"The fog is blocking sunlight. As a result, a hint of chill will be felt early in the morning. But for the better part of the day the temperatures will be above-average over the next few days," said Das.
On Sunday, the Met office recorded a minimum temperature of 16.6 degrees in Alipore. It was three notches above normal.
From Wednesday, the minimum temperature is likely to rise further.
"A fresh Western Disturbance is likely to be active. It is expected to cause some rain in Bankura, Purulia, West Burdwan and adjoining districts. If the sky clears up after the rainfall, there is a chance that the northwesterly winds will return to the city, bringing in the second spell of chill this winter. But the days are likely to be unusually warm for now," said Das.
In Kolkata, winter does not usually mean uninterrupted chill. The season is divided into cold spells caused by the free flow of northwesterly winds and warm spells brought by Western Disturbances.
A Western Disturbance is a storm that originates in the Mediterranean region and enters India via Pakistan. It brings sudden winter rain as it moves from northwestern to eastern India.
"The Celsius in Kolkata usually dips after the passage of a Western Disturbance," said a Met official.